Easton man in prison, says he didn't know of charges

An Easton man who claims he didn't know he was wanted on assault charges stemming from an alleged incident in September is in Northampton County Prison.

Timothy M. Lowney, 22, of 1335 Washington St., was arrested on a warrant Friday. Christopher Kovalchik, director of the county's pretrial services department, said Lowney ended up in prison Friday after he was cited for retail theft.

Kovalchik said he wasn't sure which police department apprehended Lowney, who, Kovalchik said, reported that he was cited at a local Wal-Mart.

According to court records, Lowney on Sept. 11 went to the home of Kevin Hewko, at 1301 Washington St. Hewko told Lowney to leave, but Lowney sat in a chair and refused to go.

When Hewko said he was calling police, records show, Lowney started to leave, but before doing so, he picked up a rifle in the hallway and pointed it at Hewko.

"I did not know about these charges," Lowney told Judge Edward G. Smith on Monday, via video link from the prison. "The day after this alleged incident, I went" to Easton police headquarters to give a statement, he said.

Lowney said police didn't tell him he would be charged. The charges were filed Sept. 14, and a warrant was issued for Lowney's arrest. He is charged with aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and criminal trespass.

Hewko, Lowney said, "has come to my house many times since this incident, and according to him," he is not pursuing prosecution.

Smith set bail for Lowney at $25,000 percentage, which means Lowney would be released by posting $2,500.